Is this new bird treat safe and beneficial for my cockatiel?

Thanks for your question. I’m sorry to hear that pellets are not available in your area, as these are the most ideal diet for parrots. I’m not sure if you would have access to them via the internet or not? If this is not an option, I would recommend feeding vitamin A rich produce items, with a focus on vegetables. I’m not sure what is available in your area, but typically the dark leafy greens and brightly colored vegetables are good options. I would also feed calcium rich produce, again focusing on vegetables when possible. The reason for these is that seed mixes are often lacking in these two nutrients and it is common to see malnutrition and deficiencies because of this. For seeds, I would recommend feeding them in moderation - for a cockatiel they don’t need more than a couple of tablespoons offered to them per day. Try to transition the diet slowly, as birds can be challenging to introduce to new things. I would recommend weighing your bird 3-4 times per week during the transition as well to ensure that there is no excessive weight loss. You can get a digital gram scale online, or hopefully from a store in your area. They are typically in the kitchen section. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Without knowing how long you've had your bird, it would be hard to give more tailored recommendations. Birds can be very picky and afraid of new things at first, especially if you've recently purchased it. I would continue to offer a variety of items to let your bird get used to seeing them, etc, and give it a chance to finally sample some. Be sure to pick up anything spoiled and keep trying!

Unfortunately, fried peanuts are not an appropriate diet item for cockatiels (or any bird species). Peanuts in general are not a good choice, in any form, including raw and unsalted. They have very little nutritional value, are high in fat, and can potentially have fungus that grows easily on them in the non-human grade types that are often sold for bird consumption. More appropriate nut choices for birds include almonds, walnuts, and Brazil nuts. For a cockatiel, 1/4 of an almond or walnut per day is an appropriately sized treat, and an equivalent size of a portion of Brazil nut (since they are quite large).

Thanks for all of your questions! You do not need to provide a cockatiel with grit - as a parrot, this material is not necessary for them to digest their food. For produce, I would recommend focusing on vegetables that are high in vitamin A and calcium - this is typically the brightly colored vegetables (such as bell peppers) and dark leafy greens. For fruits, ideally you would focus on tropical fruits, as they have more fiber and less sugar than our temperate fruits. These would include fruits such as mango and papaya. For feeding, I would recommend feeding 60-70% pellets, 20% vegetables, 5% fruit, and 5% seeds. An average cockatiel can be offered about 1/4 of food per day - some birds spill more than others so this would just be a place to start and you can then increase or decrease as needed. We want them to be eating portions of each food item, so don't offer too much food, or they will just pick out what they like (typically the seeds and fruit). You can offer multiple bowls of water - often cockatiels will bathe in one and drink from the other. Tap water is acceptable, as long as it is safe for you to be drinking as well. You don't need to offer insects, as the diet that I outlined above is nutritionally complete. I hope that answers all of your questions, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Happy birthday, Peko! I'm not entirely sure what smackers and petsile fruits are, but they look to be some sort of seed treat made especially for birds, so it should be OK to give. If you'd like to give the birds a special treat, some veggies such as salad greens, berries, fruits like a little apple or pear, etc can all be given as a fun snack as an alternate option. Other items such as spray millet are another fun treat most budgies enjoy. Make sure you are giving any treats in moderation and still feeding their regular diet to ensure they stay healthy and do not have any GI upset.

Birds are very messy eaters. If Tam is trying good other than seeds it's likely she is ingesting some of it. Seed is not a great diet for pet birds bc they will pick and chose what they like most and not get a balanced diet. It's like letting kids pick between candy or vegetables. I recommend trying to switch her more to a pellet based diet and continue to offer veggies and fruit and small amounts of other foods. Here are some articles that may help introduce new foods. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cockatiels-feeding http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/education/ https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-food-guide/

You can use grapes sliced in half or small bits of cheese as occasional treats. He may feel protective in his cage. You can desensitize him to your hand in the cage by leaving it in there for ever increasing periods of time. Use a small treat or reward after each episode. The vocalization and nibbling while being scratched is normal. When he begins to bite harder or gets "antsy", return him to his cage for a break.